Pärnu 0 - 6 Pelikan (380093278)

It was an exceptionally sunny day for the crowd of 7000 that came out to Pärnu Arena. Mirek Hlinka was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Miroslav Bežák and Manlio Schillaci. Pärnu decided to use a 4-4-2 set up. They fielded: Annus - Niinemets, Paju, Valgma, Enula - Kangur, Tihane, Laving, Lausmäe - Heiberg, Übi.

Pelikan started off with a 5-3-2 lineup. Lineup: Cagaita - Nahk, Saare, Kanepi, Raudam, Üits - Tereschenko, Kalm, Manicera - Slăbuţu, Toose.

J. Asi was called on to replace Pelikan's P. Nahk after 34 minutes following a nasty collision. Against a lesser team, Pelikan could very well have succeeded with their smart indirect free kick routine after 38 minutes. A trio of passes took the ball all the way past the defenders, but by then the intended recipient was already blocked off and the keeper could make a leisurely save. S. Üits had a good opportunity to give Pelikan the lead as he charged down the right and struck the ball towards the top corner, but the home team's goalkeeper made the save. With 40 minutes played, the visitors broke through on the right after some poor defending. S. Üits put the ball away for 0 - 1. After the ball was lifted in from the left, R. Raudam was on his own in the home side's penalty area and should have scored after 43 minutes, but missed, probably due to lack of concentration. 0 - 1 was the score after the first half. Pelikan had most of the ball, with 75 percent of possession.

With 54 minutes played, Pelikan's well-worked indirect free kick caused havoc in the penalty area, and when the ball eventually fell to S. Slăbuţu he gleefully slotted the ball home to make it 0 - 2. R. Manicera increased the visitors' lead by putting a volley away after a pass from the right. 0 - 3. At this point, it was obvious that the players of Pelikan lowered the tempo and became more defensively oriented. S. Üits enjoyed the sunshine and demonstrated his stunning technique over and over again. S. Tereschenko of Pelikan took advantage of a mistake on the home side's right after 83 minutes which increased the away team's lead to 0 - 4. The fierce heat made it important to save breath, and after a few swift runs U. Saare found it hard to get back into position. A penalty was awarded after 85 minutes, and E. Toose made the most of his chance to put Pelikan up by another goal. 0 - 5 for the visitors. After 86 minutes a combination in the middle resulted in a through ball for R. Raudam who increased Pelikan's lead to 0 - 6. Possession in this half belonged to Pelikan, who controlled the ball 78 percent of the time.

Pärnu's best player was M. Heiberg. However, V. Niinemets made a disastrous appearance. The most dominating Pelikan player was without a doubt R. Manicera. On the other hand, U. Saare's play was disheartening. The match ends 0 - 6.